conservatory quandary - any tips?

We have a large conservatory with a triple layer polycarbonate roof. We have two space heaters which warm it nicely but although the ambient temperature is good in the winter you can feel the cold coming up from the tiled floor. It's lovely in the spring and autumn as the sun warns it up, yes it can be very hot in the summer but we have all the windows and
door open. We practically live in it from about April to October but accept that it's a no go area when the cold weather arrives and there is no sun. We love the view into the garden and the bright light in there when the rest of the house seems dark. I like the idea of a small air source heat pump, I've never heard of that.

Our conservatory has a triple glazed glass roof, we have 3 radiators and it’s fine in the winter.

In the summer we have roof openings that open automatically when the temperature reaches whatever we decide and they close if it rains. All the glazed sides have opening windows, it faces North and is ok with all the windows open.

I think it would lose its appeal if we had a solid roof, we love to watch what’s going on up in the sky!

We also had our conservatory roof replaced with a permanent roof which keeps us from frying in the summer and marginally warmer in the winter. It’s a large area and has the original underfloor heating which is quite useless and proved to be very expensive to run, so we use now a space heater in there on colder days in the winter.

RRPORTED.

ferry23

I've recently moved and have a very good sized conservatory off my living room which more than doubles my living space. It overlooks the garden and I hopefully will make good use of it.

It has a large radiator and plenty of power points. I love it.

I would love it even more if it wasn't like a sauna on steroids right now.

I've been looking at all the various options but I've no experience with conservatories so I'm pretty much floundering around not really knowing what I'm doing or what I should be looking for.

So hit me with all your conservatory advice!

(P.S. Yes I have realised it's probably not going to be a cheap outing )

The length of the back of our home is an open conservatory with a permanent roof, big cased openings. The 3 sides are all windows about 18" up from the floor. Plenty of heat and aircon flows from the house.

Im anither who had the conservatory roof replaced by a permanent roof. Cooler in summer, warmer in winter. I’ve French windows between sitting room and conservatory.,mi keep them fully open during summer and over the festive period as the Christmas tree goes into the conservatory

We had our conservatory roof removed and fitted with a permanent roof. Our neighbours decided to have blinds fitted to the roof of their conservatory.

Surely if you have a solid roof you lose all the solar gain in winter?

Our living area is one large room, facing south and the south wall is all glass doors and windows and blinds too. In the summer it can get too hot as the temperatures have increased during the period that we've lived here. But in the winter the sun heats the room and we are wearing t-shirts during the day. We have installed a heat pump which can be either hot or cold and works very well.

Scribbles... We too decided not to go down the conservatory route, but get one built.
We had our Sun Lounge designed by an Architect
It has wrap around windows on 3 sides but with a proper solid roof.
At the time we did need planning permission.
It is big enough for a couple of 2 seater sofas and a table and 4 chairs.
Ours leads off our dinning room across the back of the house but not encroaching our sitting room so we see the garden.
Conservatory or purpose build these rooms are so useful.

The best thing I ever did with the conservatory was to have it demolished!

I'd never lived in a house with a conservatory until I came here and was aghast at what a user-unfriendly space it turned out to be with its horrible discoloured polycarbonate roof and only two temperatures: fully cooked or permafrost.

So it had to go and the kitchen/diner was extended to form a lovely big living space.
The wall which overlooks the garden is all glass (double glazed with openers) so we still have the view and lots of light but with a "proper" roof, insulation in the walls and under the floor and an additional radiator, it's comfortable and useable all year.

And no, it wasn't cheap but, from architect's first sketch right through to kitchen fitting and new floor, it cost less than I'd anticipated. If the OP seriously wants to extend the available living space to be permanently useable, it's an option worth looking at. You shouldn't need planning permission if you are staying within the existing footprint of the house but it's easy to check with your local authority.

Just want to add, we didn’t want to restrict our view out of the roof. We have a large garden with lots of trees. We watch the squirrels leaping from tree to tree, the clouds, the birds etc. We would miss all that if we covered the roof.

I have a large north facing conservatory which I decided to replace the roof on a few years ago. Previously I had a polycarbonate roof and had it replaced with a white glass finish.
It still lets in the light but I can neither see out nor in it. The room is warm all year round, it has a gas balanced flue heater and 2 radiators linked to the c/h system, which tbh is rarely on. The roof has made a difference not just to the temperature but also how quiet the room is when it rains. The polycarbonate roof was deafening in heavy rain but the glass roof you can barely hear the rain at all. I can't really give you a price because I had a lot of other work done too. I also had roof vents installed so it's easy to let any excess heat out the roof and also have side windows that open wide.

JamesandJon was that expensive?

We have had an air source pump installed in our conservatory. Cheap to run. Warms the room in minutes in the winter and with the flick of a switch cools the air in summer. Wonderful thing.

Georgesgran That’s what we had done and it’s made such a difference. We use the conservatory almost all year now. Heating is provided by 1 radiator (if the ch is on) or a small convector heater. Within 5 minutes or so the convector heats the conservatory enough for us to switch it off and sit and eat a meal.

Not replace the roof necessarily - some companies clad under the existing roof where suitable.

Yes - the answer is to replace the plastic/glass roof. There are companies specializing in this but I’d be tempted to ask local builders for a quotation.
My neighbour asked the builder who did some work on my house for a quote for her conservatory and I think the work is going ahead. I believe in the region of £6K, but it’ll depend on the size of your roof ferry23.

Like Calendargirl and petra.... DD moved to a house with a large conservatory.
They too had the Roof Clad, now it can be used all year round with a stable temperature. They also got an extension of their Central Heating plumbed into it, as before it was just a electric heater which was a bit useless for such a big space.

In the long term it might be cheaper than spending money on heating bills in the colder months.

We had this system ( no seams) fitted 10 years ago. They’re aren’t cheap but I can’t speak highly enough for them.
We have spot lights fitted in the ceiling.

www.hightechmembraneroofing.co.uk/

ferry23 that’s one big conservatory - lucky you !

We had our polycarbonate roof replaced three years ago with flat white insulated thermal panels to the exterior and a ThermoSave cladded ceiling to the interior.

This was done by a reputable local company.

It has improved the conservatory no end, cooler in summer and warmer in winter, but not warm enough to sit there in the coldest periods, even with a radiator.

Cost a few thousand, but has added value we feel and far more usable.

Hope this helps. The conservatory was about 15 years old when it was done.

We have one, if the sun is shining this time of the year all the blinds are down snd doors and windows open, but it really does come into its for the rest of the year, we spend most of our life in it. The light levels are much better than rooms in the house, and basking in the sun on chilly windy days is so relaxing.